Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Red
Trillium
(Prairie Trillium)
Trillium recurvatum
[C-value
5]
Lily family (Liliaceae)
Blooms mid-April
- mid-June
The native Red Trillium is common in our area and is one of our classic spring woodland plants. It prefers dappled sunlight in the spring, shade during the summer, and a moderately-moist rich loamy soil. Habitats include rich woodlands, open woodlands and savannas where deciduous trees are dominant. This perennial is 6-12" tall consisting of a single smooth stem and a whorl of 3 variegated spreading leaves across at its apex. Each leaf is 3-6" long and 1˝-3˝", ovate or oval-shaped, toothless, and parallel-veined. On a mature plant, a single stalkless flower with 3 arching dark maroon petals develops on top of the whorl of leaves forming a central nesting bud.
Red Trillium at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve May 5, 2015
Red Trillium at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 24, 2015
Red Trillium at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve April 24, 2015
The color and scent of Red Trillium is like rotting meat or carrion - very attractive to some pollinators - and sometimes called "Stinking Benjamin". Red Trillium was also sometimes called “Birthroot” as its powdered root was used to promote birthing. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
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